News

March Refits First KC-135

8/2/2011

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March Refits First KC-135: Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Maintenance Group at March ARB, Calif., recently completed the first full interior refurbishment of a KC-135 tanker assigned to the base. "We're doing this to make our airplanes last longer and look better," stated MSgt. Bryan Shifflett, project supervisor. "When visitors and aircrew come aboard one of our planes, they'll know it's a March jet because it reflects the quality of everything we do here." Based on its condition, the maintainers chose a KC-135 built in 1962 as the first of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing's 13 KC-135s to undergo refit. Maintainers stripped the interior, repainted the flight deck and cargo bay, replaced stained upholstery, changed torn sound proofing, and reinstalled refurbished internal fittings. The entire process took 23 days. March's remaining 12 KC-135s will undergo the same process during the regular periodic maintenance cycle. (March report by Megan Just)